 His father's spending wreaked havoc on the family estate, but upon his mother's death in 1825, he inherited the remaining estates at Wanstead; Athelhampton, Devon; and Draycot Cerne, Wiltshire.Bitter, protracted custody litigation followed — his mother's sisters with temporary custody succeeded in placing him under the guardianship of the Duke of Wellington, his great-uncle.In 1836 he took his father to court, after his father had sold furniture and pictures belonging to Draycot House to cover a ₤3,000 debt.